too much like hard work when the tinned variety is good enough bean wise.. the sauce just needs tweaking slightly for me.. I grew up on heinz beans ;)
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All things really worth having require some work... Especially when it comes to homemade pasta! ;)
But yes, I agree tinned baked beans are good enough, if the sauce is tweaked. But you need to buy decent quality ones, not the 'value' range shite, and also not necessarily Heinz, as IMO you're paying over the odds for a brand name.
We usually buy Sainsbury's own brand reduced salt and sugar ones, which are every bit as good as Heinz. Most supermarket own brand ones are fine. Don't get the ones from Lidl or Aldi though, as they are cack, simply because Germans don't eat baked beans!
Their brown sauce is the same :spew: But their tomato ketchup is excellent.
Marco.
I tweak just about all ready made foods I use. Seems the obvious thing to do.
Like buying a basic frozen pizza and when I get around to cooking it, adding butter, extra tomato puree, thin sliced tomatoes and mushrooms and more cheese. I only buy the cheese and tomato variety by the way, not being keen on anchovies, olives or ham or pepperoni, etc.
As I said before. These are worth a try. They're a sight better than most.
http://i67.tinypic.com/of12qp.jpg
aldi brown is good. their tomato is good as well. I usually buy good ones and it depends on whats on offer. I dont eat them much now anyway. Branson ones are not bad.
Butter on a pizza, Geoff? :spew::spew: Rather you than me! And there's usually too much cheese on British-style pizzas for me, so I always scrape some of it off, as I don't like them to be too stodgy (the real ones aren't).
However, I'm with you on just buying the Margherita ones and adding more and/or better ingredients than would normally be included. Although, I also like adding some (good quality) spicy salami, chilli and black olives, and perhaps some anchovies, as I like strong flavours :)
Marco.
Hmm... Never have a problem with tomatoes drying on pizzas, unless you leave them in for too long. However, if you find that works, then carry on :)
Marco.
I completely agree. The ones with stone-baked bases tend to be best, as at least then the bases (traditionally the most important part of a pizza) taste of something, as you can always 'tart up' the toppings and alter them to your taste, but if it's a shit base, it's a shit base....
Also, I never overcook supermarket pizzas either, as then the base simply turns to a 'crunchy biscuit' consistency, which I can't stand. So I simply watch things until the cheese has nicely melted and the base is cooked and reasonably firm, and no more. Then serve with some cracked fresh black pepper and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil :)
Marco.
tesco do a sweet chilli chicken frozen one that is very decent. Marco got some once when up. Usually have one in the freezer for emergencies. Lidl do one too but forgot what the topping is that is edible. Used to make my own and they were very popular. Still got my stone
Lol - that's why I never buy frozen pizzas, as they're generally shit! You wouldn't honestly expect an Italian to eat frozen pizza, by choice? ;)
This is what I buy (as close as possible to the real thing from a supermarket), or the same only in Margherita version: http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/...spicy-pizza-12
Most other things in supermarkets, posing as 'pizza', I wouldn't put in my mouth. The only frozen things we buy are peas and ice-cream!
Marco.
for the money its pretty decent. I dont eat pizza much as its too much work for me making it now, and its difficult making all that for one tbh. Before the family went their ways I made it regularly.Now Im on my own you have to make concessions.
Have you got a Sainsbury's near you? If so, try the one I linked to, as it actually tastes something like the real thing, mainly because of the quality of the base. Just scrape off some of the cheese before cooking it, to make it less heavy. Job done! :)
Marco.
not close enough. Not big on sainsbury now. they have gone downhill badly. Used to get shopping delivered from them when i wasnt well and the food was nowt to write home about. Tesco is better as a nationwide supermarket
Not for me, but then remember that what's stocked in branches in Scotland is often different to that in stores down here... We've discovered this already with wines in Lidl, remember? ;)
In Wrexham, we're lucky to have access to the larger 'flagship' versions of all the major supermarkets, which stock their full ranges of merchandise, as it's the only genuinely big town (should be a city) in the whole of North Wales, so folks travel from all over North Wales to shop there, especially from rural areas where there's hee-haw, and so that demand is catered for.
Don't get me wrong though, I've got nothing against Tesco, and I agree that some of their stuff is great. I rate their 'Finest' range as the best of the 'up-market' supermarket food varieties, and their wine selection is, IMO, the best of all supermarkets, outside of Waitrose :)
Marco.
It's quite a big shop. Used to be a diy store and garden centre. Like b and q
No worries. The main reason why we don't use the Tesco here much, which is huge [it's an 'Extra' branch], is because it's located right in the centre of town, and getting in and out of the car park is a nightmare, because idiots use it to go shopping elsewhere, so it's always full... :rolleyes:
Whereas Sainsbury's is situated in a big retail park, at the other end of town, and you can get in and out much quicker! :)
Marco.
Mousakka , girlfriend says it needs more salt as usual, but she's Spanish.
She probably just appreciates the correct seasoning on her food, as all Latins do ;)
Marco.
Avocado, carrot and beetroot salad to start. Followed by honey-glazed gammon joint with grilled tomato, baby potatoes, carrots, sugar-snap peas, green beans, sweetcorn and brocolli.
2015 Château Grand Désir, Bordeaux
Nothing for pudding - too stuffed!
Nice. Can we have some pics, daftee? I did ask before, see here: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...577#post918577
;)
Marco.
got some nice Borettane onions today. i'll have them with cheese etc not tried them before
they are Italian. fancy pickled onions I guess.. in balsamic.
TBH, I hadn't either until now... Not something I've had. Got a pic, Grant? :)
Marco.
Pic as requested
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a54e62a79a.jpg
Very nice and different.
Having remains of the steak pie for lunch
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b82fea1a8a.jpg
Its a finest pie with baby pots and a couple of those nice onions
Had an old school dinner of chicken pie, mash, mixed greens and gravy with lashings of Worcestershire sauce in the gravy. Jam roly poly and custard for desert.
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Take Away Later with a few beers....:)
Mezzalune look good, Grant! And less Parmesan I see, too... ;)
Marco.
Strange one, had some left over Lidl hot chicken curry. Made a big bubble and squeak with fried red onions, spring greens and mashed potato.
Put the chicken curry on top of the bubble and squeak, was very nice.
Asda freshly made pepperoni pizza, with extra garlic, yummy yummyyummington
Remains of some T-bone steak with a tomato, onion, garlic, ginger and basil sauce on a bed of plain white long-grain rice, sweetcorn, green beans and spinach.
Fresh mango to follow.
No booze and no photograph!
Lol... Why no piccies? We all post pics of our food.
Are you a wee bit shy? :D
Marco.
Chicken pie, deep fried potato scallops and mushrooms, green beans & gravy.
http://i67.tinypic.com/25ox7hg.jpg
Still using up stuff left by family. Was OK though! :)